Just Once

Chapter 21-Sofia

The night air was thick with tension as Zayden and I rounded the corner of Lang's estate, the sound of our footsteps muffled against the damp earth. My heart pounded in my chest-not just from the chase, but from the weight of what we were walking into. Every move I made tonight was a step closer to my endgame, and Zayden was too close for comfort.

The man we'd pursued had vanished into the shadows. Lang's estate was vast, riddled with hidden passages and darkened alcoves-perfect for someone looking to disappear. I scanned the perimeter, my gaze sharp despite the adrenaline coursing through me.

"Nothing," Zayden muttered, his jaw clenched in frustration. His presence felt heavier now, like he was a constant shadow at my side. "He's gone."

"No," I said firmly. "He's here somewhere."

We needed to find him before he reported back to whoever was pulling Lang's strings. The Society wouldn't let us walk away unscathed if they knew we were this close.

Zayden shifted, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. "Sofia, what exactly are you hoping to find?"

I held his gaze, refusing to blink. "Answers."

It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. Zayden didn't need to know how deep my plans ran-not yet.

"I'll check the east wing," he said, his tone clipped.

"I'll head for the gardens," I replied, already moving before he could argue.

The gardens behind Lang's estate were a maze of manicured hedges and stone paths, eerily silent under the moonlight. My heels crunched against the gravel as I moved, my breath fogging the cold night air.

Halfway down the main path, I heard it-a rustle, faint but unmistakable.

I stopped, every nerve in my body on edge. Slowly, I turned toward the sound, my gaze cutting through the darkness.

"Show yourself," I commanded, my voice steady.

For a few agonizing seconds, there was nothing. Then, a figure stepped out from behind a hedge. It was the man from earlier-the one who had been watching us. His face was partially obscured by a black scarf, but his eyes burned with intensity.

"You shouldn't have followed me," he said, his voice gravelly.

"And you shouldn't have run," I shot back. "What's Lang planning? What does The Society want from tonight?"

He laughed, low and mocking. "You think you can stop them? You don't understand the game you're playing."

"I understand more than you think," I said, taking a step closer. "You tell me what I want to know, and maybe you'll walk out of here alive."

The man's hand twitched toward his pocket, and instinct took over. I lunged before he could draw whatever weapon he was hiding, slamming him against the hedge.

"Who sent you?" I demanded.

His eyes flickered with something-fear or recognition, I wasn't sure. But before he could answer, footsteps thundered down the path behind me.

"Sofia!"

Zayden's voice.

The man seized the moment of distraction, shoving me off balance. I hit the gravel hard, the breath knocked out of me.

By the time I scrambled to my feet, the man was gone, vanished into the night.

Zayden reached me, his eyes scanning me for injuries. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said through gritted teeth. Anger burned in my chest-not just at the man for escaping, but at myself for letting him.

Zayden's hand found my shoulder, grounding me. "Sofia, talk to me. What happened?"

"He knows something," I said, shaking my head. "He's working for The Society. Lang's planning something big, and we're running out of time."

Zayden's gaze darkened. "Then we don't stop until we find him."

His resolve should have comforted me. Instead, it only made the ache in my chest worse.

Because Zayden had no idea he was walking straight into my trap.

I hated how much I cared.

I hated that, for a moment, I almost wanted to tell him the truth.

But there was no turning back now.

The Society was watching. And the only way to win this game was to play it to the bitter end-even if it meant sacrificing the man standing beside me.